Lasting First Impressions: A Qualitative Study of Freshmen Arrival on Campus.

Michener, Barbara; Belcheir, Marcia J.

This qualitative study examined the experiences and impressions of first-time freshmen at Boise State University (BSU) in Idaho. Twenty-five freshmen completed weekly open-ended interviews, kept journals, and participated in an end-of-term group meeting during the fall term of 1996. The results indicated that most students found getting information about BSU fairly straightforward, that the admissions process was uneventful for most, that most students attended BSU because it was close to home, and that first impressions of the university ranged from "big and scary" to only a little confusing. All students seemed to acclimate within several weeks on campus. Almost all of the students reported that it was their decision to go to college and to select their major though their families were supportive. Although most students had positive comments regarding advising, six students said that they received bad advice or no help at all. The 17 students receiving financial aid reported that the financial aid process was the most frustrating part of enrolling at BSU. An appendix provides brief biographies of the 25 participants in the study. (MDM)